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Avast Secure Browser - FAQs

Avast is now making Avast Secure Browser available to existing Avast SafeZone Browser users. Avast Secure Browser is both an update and a successor to Avast SafeZone Browser and includes a range of new security and privacy tools. As a SafeZone Browser user, you may have already received an automatic update.

General

What is Avast Secure Browser?

Avast Secure Browser is a newly designed and improved version of Avast SafeZone Browser. In addition to many of the SafeZone Browser features, Avast Secure Browser now includes the Security & Privacy Center. The Security & Privacy Center is a collection of tools and features which enable you to understand and manage your online activity and safety.

How can I get Avast Secure Browser?

Avast Secure Browser is available when you install any Avast Antivirus product. If you are a SafeZone Browser user, you may have already received an automatic update.

Is Avast Secure Browser compatible with other browsers?

Yes. Avast Secure Browser is designed to work easily alongside your other browsers.

What happened to my SafeZone Browser?

Avast SafeZone Browser has been updated to Avast Secure Browser, built on the latest, most secure version of Chromium. The newly designed Avast Secure Browser still has the main SafeZone Browser functionality and many of the old SafeZone Browser features, but now includes the Security & Privacy Center which provides extra security tools, settings, and features.

How do I open Avast Secure Browser?

You can open Avast Secure Browser in the following ways:

Double-click the desktop shortcut icon

Click the taskbar icon

Click the Start menu shortcut

How does Avast Secure Browser protect my security and privacy?

Avast Secure Browser includes a range of features and tools which are designed to maximize your online security. In addition to the benefits of the old SafeZone Browser, such as Bank Modeand Video Downloader, Avast Secure Browser comes with the Security & Privacy Center.

Features

What is the Security & Privacy Center?

The Security & Privacy Center is a console of tools, features, and settings which allow you to understand and manage your online activity.

When you go to the Security & Privacy Center, you can view and select which tools to use and decide how you want to configure Avast Secure Browser. By using these tools, you not only create a more secure and private browser, but also a more secure PC.

Access the Security & Privacy Center by clicking the orange Avast icon in the top-right corner of the Avast Secure Browser screen.

What is Avast Antivirus?

Avast Antivirus protects you in real-time against viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malware. Once installed, the antivirus runs silently in the background to prevent threats on your PC.

The Avast Antivirus tile in the Security & Privacy Center detects if the Avast Antivirus software is installed on your PC. If the Avast Antivirus software is not installed, Avast Secure Browser gives you the option to install it.

What is Default Browser?

The Default Browser feature allows you to select Avast Secure Browser to automatically open a web page or web link.

What is Adblock?

Adblock stops advertisements from loading on the webpages you visit which improves the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. Adblock is enabled by default.

To adjust or disable this feature, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the Adblock tile to set your preferences.

What is Password Manager?

The Password Manager feature in Avast Secure Browser allows you to select a password manager. A password manager securely stores your passwords in one location while you only have to remember one master password.

To select a password manager, go to the Security & Privacy Center and use the drop-down menu on the Password Manager tile to select which password manager you want to use.

What is Anti-Phishing?

Anti-Phishing blocks malicious websites and phishing attempts while you browse the web. It also prevents you from downloading potentially malicious content from the web to keep you from unknowingly infecting your PC. Anti-phishing is enabled by default.

To disable this feature, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the Anti-Phishing tile so that it changes from green to gray.

What is SecureLine VPN?

VPN refers to a Virtual Private Network. SecureLine VPN functions as a private tunnel through the internet which encrypts your data and secures your connection when using public Wi-Fi connections such as those in cafes or airports.

To enable SecureLine VPN, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the SecureLine VPN tile so that it changes to green.

To change the VPN location, use the drop-down menu and select your preferred location. Changing the VPN location can be useful to bypass geolocation restrictions or to access your favorite content while traveling.

The SecureLine VPN feature is only available when Avast Antivirus is installed and running on your PC:

What is Stealth Mode?

Stealth Mode, sometimes referred to as privacy mode or incognito mode, is a privacy feature that prevents your browsing history from being stored and deletes any tracking cookies or web caches you acquire during your Stealth Mode browsing session.

What is HTTPS Encryption?

HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) is a more secure version of the standard HTTP connection. HTTPS adds encryption which prevents others from eavesdropping, and helps ensure that you are connected to the intended server. The HTTPS Encryption feature in Avast Secure Browser ensures that each website you visit uses an HTTPS connection where supported. HTTPS Encryption is enabled by default.

To disable this feature, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the HTTPS Encryption tile so that it changes from green to gray.

What is Anti-Tracking?

The Anti-Tracking feature protects your privacy by preventing websites, analytics companies, advertising networks, and other web services from tracking your online activity. It also uses filters to completely remove web bugs, tracking scripts, and other information collectors from the sites you visit. Anti-Tracking is enabled by default.

To disable this feature, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the Anti-Tracking tile so that it changes from green to grey.

What is Privacy Cleaner?

Privacy Cleaner clears your browsing history as well as other data stored in your browsers, such as cached images and cookies. This protects your privacy and clears disk space on your PC.

To use Privacy Cleaner to clear your history, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click Launch Cleaner on the Privacy Cleaner tile.

What is Extension Guard?

Extension Guard prevents untrusted extensions (also known as add-ons and plug-ins) from being installed in Avast Secure Browser and allows you to install safe, trusted extensions. This feature is enabled by default.

To disable Extension Guard, go to the Security & Privacy Center and click the slider on the Extension Guard tile so that it changes from green to gray.

What is Flash Protect?

Flash based content opens your PC to security vulnerabilities, takes up space on your PC, and can use a large percentage of your PC's battery life. The Flash Protect feature blocks Flash-based content from running on your PC unless you choose to allow it.

What is Bank Mode?

Bank Mode provides a virtual desktop which acts as a safe and clean PC within your real PC. This protects against a potentially hijacked host or network and prevents keyloggers and network-based eavesdropping from capturing any of your data. We recommend using Bank Mode each time you want to access a banking website.

What is Anti-Fingerprinting?

Websites and ad networks can use your unique browser configuration, referred to as your browser fingerprint, to track you. Your browser fingerprint is comprised of data related to your device configuration, browser, and history of your online behavior which is continuously stored while you interact with webpages. Anti-Fingerprinting helps disguise your digital fingerprint to prevent websites from identifying and tracking you without your consent.

The Anti-Fingerprinting feature can hide information that certain websites need to operate properly. If you encounter problems with a website you normally visit, you can temporarily disable the feature. go to the Security and Privacy Center and click the slider on the Anti-Fingerprinting tile so that it changes from green to gray.

How do I pin applications to the Bank Mode taskbar?

Click the ⋮ menu icon (three dots) in the top-right corner of the screen, then select Bank Mode.

Click the + symbol on the Bank Mode taskbar.

Select the application you want to add, then click Open.

In the Add Application dialog that appears, click Add to confirm.

The application's icon appears on the Bank Mode taskbar. Click the relevant icon to launch your application. To remove an application, right-click the application’s icon and select Unpin this program from the taskbar.

Use caution when adding unknown applications to the Bank Mode Taskbar, as all apps can access information on your screen, even while in Bank Mode.

How do I clear my browsing history?

In the new Privacy Cleaner window that appears, select your preferences.

Click Clear browsing data.

How do I make Avast Secure Browser my default browser?

To make Avast Secure Browser your default browser, go to the Security & Privacy Center. When a banner appears at the top of the screen, click Make Default. If a banner does not appear, Avast Secure Browser might already be your default browser.

How can I import bookmarks and other settings from my other browsers?

Avast Secure Browser allows you to import browsing history, bookmarks, saved passwords, cookies, and more from your other browsers. If you want a more seamless experience between your browsers, importing browsing data can catch Avast Secure Browser up with what you've been doing in other apps. To import browser data:

Click the ⋮ menu icon (three dots) in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.

Scroll to the Bookmarks and Data section and click Import bookmarks and settings....

Select the browser you want to import data from using the drop-down menu, then tick the relevant boxes according to which type of data you want to import.

What should I do if Bank Mode does not load properly?

To use Bank Mode, Avast Antivirus needs to be installed and running. If you have trouble loading Bank Mode, try to restart Avast Secure Browser. If the issue continues, update your Avast Antivirus software to the latest version and restart your PC:

How do I configure Bank Mode to open automatically?

Click Add in the Automatically open Bank Mode on the following websites section.

Type the website's URL into the text box, then click OK.

To remove a website from the list, click Remove. Your changes are saved automatically.

Why can't I access the Security and Privacy Center?

The latest version of Avast Secure Browser, which contains the Security & Privacy Center, is not supported on your current operating system. For security reasons, we recommend updating your operating system to the latest version of Windows.

After you update Windows to versions 10, 8, or 7, you can install the latest version of Avast Secure Browser.

How do I uninstall Avast Secure Browser?

To uninstall Avast Secure Browser, follow the steps below according to your version of Windows:

Close all Avast Secure Browser windows and tabs on your PC.

Click the Windows Start Menu, then click the gear icon to go to Settings.

Click System, then select Apps & Features from the left-side menu.

Find and click Avast Secure Browser, then click Uninstall.

Tick the box next to Also delete your browsing data to delete your profile information, such as bookmarks and history.

Click Uninstall.

Close all Avast Secure Browser windows and tabs on your PC.

Point your cursor to the top-right of your screen, then click Settings ▸ Control Panel.

Click the Windows Start Menu icon, then click Control Panel.

Click Uninstall a program or Programs and Features.

Click Add or Remove Programs.

Double-click Avast Secure Browser.

Tick the box next to Also delete your browsing data to delete your profile information, such as bookmarks and history.